Conveying apparatus



Jan. 5, 1 932. c KNUU-HLA 1,840,042

CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MM INVENTOR.

ayj ,m W

A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 5, 1932. f c. KNUUTILA 1,840,042

CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A \h I I N I 5;

W R 1* .12! Q 2g Fig.5.

I 1 J v CAMAM INVENTOR.

BY in A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 5, 1932 RATE T? or rice;

' enemas meanin s NEWARK, ew, JERSEY coNvEYIne Arraimrus P 7 Application filed February 12, 1931; Serial no 515,131;

This invention relates to a conveying mechanism. a H V r One of the objects of the invention is to provide a conveying mechanism which will be of strong and thoroughlydurable construction. Another objectof this invention is to provide adevice ofthe above character which will be of simple construction and thoroughly practical operation -Another object of this invention is to provide a device or the above character which will beof eco nomical and, ready manufacture. Another objectof this invention is to provide a device of the above character which may be easily and etficiently assembled and installed. Another object of this inventionis to provide a deviceof the above character which will utilize as a motive force an easily obtainable source of energy. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed ou'thereinafter.

This invention accordinglycons-ists in' the features of construction, cornbinationsof ele ments and' arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the constructlonto be hereinafter described and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in cheappended claims. I i i I In the accompanying drawings in which is shown. one or" the various possible embodiments of the mechanical-features of my invention: i

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view-showing a manner in which my device may be installed for operation;

V Figure 2 is a perspective view on a larger parts in this embodiscale of certain of the ment ofniy invention Figure 3 is a top plan view of certain details of mydevice certain parts being broken 1 away for clearness of illustration; 8

Figure 4 is a. bottomplan view of the de vice asshownin Figure 2 i f Figuree is across section taken along the line 5-43 of Figure 3 i l i igure 6 is cross section 'on an enlarged scale or another-part of my device,- and r i Figure 7 across section taken along the line 7+7 of Figurefi;

Similar reference characters refer to simi lar parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings. i c Reierring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly toFig'ure 2, there is shown plate 10 upon which is mounted a a drum 11. Drum 11 rotates abouta sleeved bolt or rivet l2lsecured to plate .10 by any convenient means such as a nut 13 (see Figure 5); 'Flangesgenerally indicated at14' extend about the periphery of drum 11' so that-a flexible member ll ,(see Figure 1 preferably'a cable or 1 cord, may be coiled:

I therea-boutand:rotate the drum according to.

the longitudinal movement of the flexible member.

Referring to Figure 5, eXtending from the undersideof drum 11 and" preferably into gral'therewith isanextension 15 of-the drum preferably having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the drum, As shownin Figure 2,-plate 10 is provided atone side with a raisedportion 16, and theinner edge generally indicated at 170i this-raisedportionisin substantial alignment with extension ,15jof drum 11. As bestshown in Figure 3;,edge 17 T5 v is shapedto form twoarcsl8 and 19; opposite 1 a extension15. "Thesearcsare ofl'the center or axis of drum 11, so that the center of are I 18 issubstantially at a'point 20 on the plate and the center of arc l9lis substantially atria point 21 on the' plate.v Thus if a'roll 22, to; be described more fully hereinafter, is placed be: tween arcs 18 and 19 and extension 15 of drum 11, a 'cammingaction ensues between the-drum and 1011122 according-to theposir tionofithe roll'with respect to arcs 18 and 19 andthe direction'ofrotationof drum 11.]

A lever 23 is pivoted 'o1 1'boltg12 so that may rotate about bolt 12 as an axis. One end 25 of lever 23 extends towardraised portion 16,-and roll 22 is rotatably mounted on this endbymeans of'a pin 24 extendingthrough lever 23 and into roll 22. Lever 23 is loosely fitted about bolt- 12. ;Thus roll 22 may move 7 toward extension 15 upon the application of pressure from portionlG. Inthis mannerif transverse motion is applied to the other; end 33 of lever 23 iny'eitherdirection, asiwill be seein most clearly from Figure-3 roll 22 may I be positioned between are 18 and extension 15 or are 19 and extension 15. As described above, the centers 21 and 22 of arcs 18 and 19 respectively are ofii center with respect to the axis of lever 23 and drum 11. Thus if lever 23 is in the position shown in Figure 3 so that roll 22 rests between are 18 and extension 15, a counter clockwise rotation of drum 11 is stopped due to the jam created between are 18, roll 22 and extension 15, but clockwise rotation of drum 11 may take place, for in this caseroll 22isrotated andmoves to a portion of cam 18 more distant from extension 15 to stop the jamming action. In a similar manner, if lever 23 is forced to the left, as "iewed in Figure 3, roll 22 is positioned between are 19 and extension 15 to prevent a clockwise rotation of drum 11 while permitting a counterclockwise rotation thereo'f. Thus drum 11 is limited to rotation in one direction, the direction in which this rotation may take place being controlled by the position of lever 23.

As shown in Figure 2, a member 27 is slidably mounted on plate 10 and secured thereto by any desired means such as lips generally indicated at 28 extending from the plate. The opposite ends 29 and 30 of member 27 are preferably bent at right angles thereto and holes 31 and 32 respectively are provided in these right angle projections. Member 27 is pivotally connected to end 33 of lever 23 by means of a ivot or bolt 34. Thus transverse motion app ied at either end of member 27 is transmitted to lever 23 to position roll 22 between are 18 and extension 15 or arc 19 and extension 15, and as will now be clear the direction in which drum 11 may rotate may be controlled by the relative position of'arm 27 with res ect to plate 10.

In or er to hold lever 23 in either of the above mentioned positions, I provide a portion 35 of pin 24 extending through a slot 36 of plate 10 to engage a resilient member 37 (see Figure 4). This resilient member may be of any desired construction, a convenient form of which is shown in Figure 4, consisting of a resilient wire secured to points 38 and 39 on plate 10 and having a cam-like portion 40 thereon in engagement with portion 35 of pin 24. Thus pressure is applied to portion 35 to keep lever 23 in the position shown in the drawings and upon pressure being applied to member 27 from the left, as viewed in Figure 4 of the drawings, to change the position of lever 23, spring 37 yields to allow portion 35 to slide over cam-like portion 40 and engage the other side thereof to hold lever 23 in the opposite position from that shown in the drawings. Thus a simple and thoroughly practical means is provided for insuring the maintenance of certain of the working parts of this device in proper operative relation to each other.

Turning now to the action of my device, a diagrammatic view of the apparatus as installed is shown in Figure l. Cable 41 passes through hole 31 of right angle projection 29 and in turn is looped about drum 11, thence passes through hole 32 of right angle projection 30. Cable 41 may be of any convenient length according to the use to which my device is to be applied, and one end thereof (the right hand end in Figure 1) is connected to a resilient member 43 which may take the form of a spiral spring or any other device having the roperty of elasticity. A stop 42 is secured to the end of cable 41 to stop right angle projection 30 when it is moved thereagainst. The opposite end of member 43 is connected in any desired manner to a substantially fixed support 44. The other end of cable 41 is connected to a convenient form of vibrator 46, an illustrative embodiment of which will be described hereinafter. This end of cable 41 is provided with a stop 45 for right angle projection 29 when this projection is moved thereagainst. The various parts as thus assembled are now in operative position.

Roll 22 is shown in engagement with are 18 and extension 15. The roll being in this position, drum 11 may rotate in a clockwise direction and is held from a counter-clockwise rotation by the cam-like action of roll 22 coacting with are 18, as more fully described above.

Upon the actuation of vibrator 46, this vibrator, coacting with resilient member 43, acts to produce longitudinal vibrations in cable 41. For purposes of illustration each complete vibration will be hereinafter referred to as the result of two strokes, one in each longitudinal direction. These longitudinal vibrations are in turn transferred to drum 11' by the loop in cable 41 extending thereabout, and if drum 11 was free to 1'0- tate in either direction the vibrations would tend to produce small angular rotations of the drum in either direction according to the length of the strokes. Thus the strokes of these vibrations in a left hand direction, as viewed in the drawings, would under such circumstances tend to rotate drum 11 in a clockwise direction and consequently the strokes of the vibrations in a right hand direction, as viewed in Figure 1, would tend to create a counter-clockwise rotation of drum 11. As described above, however, with the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, drum 11 is incapable of counter-clockwise rotation. Consequently as drum 11 is secured to plate 10 the strokes of cable 41 in a right hand direction tend to pull the entire device along the cable in that direction. The ensuing left hand strokes of the vibrations merely create a rotation of drum 11 in a clockwise direction and thus produce no motion or force to counteract the force above described which tends to move the device toward the right as viewed in the drawings. Thus, as long as longitudinal vibrations are site cilect on drum 11. Drum 11 may 'now" rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. and is held from rotation in aclockwisedirection by roll 22 coactingwith are 19. Asthe'vn brations in cable 41 are continued, the strokes special form of imparted to -cable '41; through. the action of? vibrator 46, the device travelsalong cable41.

in a right hand directions 7 Upon projection. 3Ov comingiinto; engage ment with stop 42, plate; 1031s. moved along.

sli'dabie member. 27 1. and this action: is continuedyprojection 5350f pin 24 exerts apres-- sure on spring 37sto'snap over to the other side of cam-like portion '40. Thus roll 22 ,is-q thrown out of. engagement with: are 18 and into engagement witharc-lS; Asthese parts have now assumed a new position with re.

spect toeach other,-roll 22L1 ow has the oppothereof in -a left hand direction are prevented from producingirotation in drum 11 and.

consequently tend to move theientire device along cable 41 1n: a left hand CllI'QCtlOIl as viewed in Figure 1. this action, the right hand strokes tend to create acounter-clockwise rotation of drum 11, thus failing to impede, the right hand:

direction of the device along cable 41. Consequently the device now tendstomoveto ward the left, as viewedigure 1, and continues in this direction until pro ect1on 31 of slidable memberQTcomes intoengagement with stop 45. The continuation of the action forces pro ection over cam-like portion of springB'Y to snap roll 22 over into engagement with are 18; The motion ofthe deviceis now continued in a ri ht handdirection, as describedabove; and this action continuesas long as vibrator 46 coacting with resilientmember 43 tends to 'createlongituclinal vibrations in cable 41. Thus it will be seen that by this thoroughly practical mechanism of'simple and durable construc tion Ihave provided a unique and economi cal means for" utilizing and transforming a simple vibratory motion intoa longitudinal mot-ion lIlQltheYClHfi-ECUOH according to the:

users wishes. Itwillbe observed that such a' source of energy is very easily obtained and if this device is to'be'used on smallscale the necessarylongitudinal vibrations may be produced manually without theaid-of any results; w I

Turningnow to the means by which cable 41/.1ay be vibrated, it should be understood at this point that the particular mechanism to be employedfor this purpose largely depends upon the size of the conveying device and consequently the acid] which this device is adaptedtocarry: Ifthe' devicelisto be comparativelysmall so that the various forces to be imparted to cable 4lto causeglongitudinal vibration thereof will not have tojbe great, a vibrator such as thatshown in Figures 6 and? maybe employedi fly wheel 54.

Simultaneously with vibratorwith satisfactory The various operating parts of'this mecha nism 'are mounted ina suitable casting orboX generally indicated at 47 and journalledflini,

thisbox is a-shaft 48 supportinga gear wheel 49:. The other end of shaft 48 maybe securedito any suitable driving means, a crank 50 for manual operation thereof being shown as an. illustrative embodiment thereof. A pinion 51 in. engagement with gear 49 is mountedon a shaft 52embedded in and se-- cured to casting 49 asiby' a nut 53. Also secured to='shaft.52 is a conveniently Weighted shaft "as by crank 50 is transmitted to shaft 52 and consequently fly wheel 54 by pinion 51.

level generally indicated at 55 is mountedin casting 47 by a screw or rivet 56 acting asa pivot point and preferabiy above gear 49. The depending portion of pivot 55is slidably mounted on fly wheel54 by a flanged lugio? extending through a slotted'portion 58'thereof. 1. Thus upon rotation of fly Wheel 54 transverse vibratory motion is created at:

thefree endg59 of lever 55 pivoting: about I point 56.

Secured to a substantially right angle proect1on'60 of lever 55 by any desired means such. as. lug 61, IS a resilient member62 which may take the form of a spiral spring for purposes of convenience. The opposite endof member 62 is secured to casting 47 as by an eye 63. a An opening 64 is provided'near the base of the casting 47 andpreferably in alignment with end 59of lever 55 so that cable 41 may be passed therethrough and se-- cured to end 59 as by a hole 65 therein.

Assuming thatthe opposite end of cable 41 is secured to a resil ent member such as that shown in Figure l, and that there is no slack gradually being expanded from its neutral.

position thus increasing its tension. on project on 60 and consequently partially counters act-ing'the tension of member 48 on lever 55;

lVhen lug 57 reaches point A, spring 62is at maximum; tension and member 48 is at minimum tEllSlOll so that fly wheel54 depends for,

rotation past thissmall point on the actuation of crank 50. -However, as soon as-lug 5'1 passes point A, the tension ofspringGQ acts With crank 50 to move fly wheel 54 .and con sequently lug 5'? to the positionashown in the drawings. he neutral position being reached on this side, crank 50 serves to rotate the wheelpastthispoint so that the action Thus the rotary motion of may repeat itself. Thus by the coaction of member and spring 62 theforce necessary for rotating crank 50 to Create transverse motion in end 59 of lever 55 is greatly diminished. Furthermore, the action of these two springs tends to create a snapping action 5 of lever 55 in both directions thus pronounc ing the resultant strokes of the vibrations produced in cable 41. In this manner, I have provided a means for vibrating cable 41, which, although simple and economical in construction, is adapted to create the necessary longitudinal vibrations in cable all for the actuation of my conveying mechanism. It should be understood however that the scope of this invention not limited to this particular type of vibrating means as I fully realize that many diilercnt forms of apparatus might be employed to perform this particular function in the operation of my conveying device.

As used in the specification and claims, the Word cable will be understood to include a cord, wire, chain, cable, or other flexible member capable of being coiled about the drum 11.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a thoroughly practical and ellicient construc tion and apparatus in which the several ob jects hereinbefore mentioned as well as many others are successfully achieved.

The invention is particularly advantageous for use in toys, as a means for moving a toy automobile, airplane, locomotive or the like.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes may be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying (.raw'ings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable adapted to be vibrated, means coacting with said cable and adapteo to utilize the vibrations of said cable for longitudinal motion with respect to said cable.

2. In a device of the characterdescribed, in combination, means including a cable, and means coact ing with said cable and adapted to utilize the vibrations of said cable for longitudinal motion in either direction with respect to said cable.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, means coacting with said cable and adapted to utilize the vibrations of said cable for longitudinal motion in either direction with respect to said cable, and means adapted to control the direction of said motion.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, means adapted to travel along said cable, means included in said last mentioned means adapted to coact with the vibrations of said cable to move said last mentioned means along said cable.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, means for vibrating said cable longitudinally, a member adapted to move along said cable; and means on said member operatively related to said cable and adapted to rotate freely in one direction while being held against rotation in the opposite direction, whereby said member is moved longitudinally of the cable.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, means for vibrating said cable longitudinally a member adapted to move along said ca 1e; means on said member operatively related to said cable and adapted to rotate freely in one direction while being held against rotation in the opposite direction, whereby said member is moved longitudinally of the cable, and means to control the direction of rotation of said rotatable means.

7 In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, means for vibrating said cable, a member adapted to move along said cable, means adapted to rotate with respect to the vibrations of said cable, and means permitting rotation of said last mentioned means in one direction and preventing rotation thereof in the other direction to impart longitudinal motion to said member.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, means for vibrating said cable, a member adapted to move along said cable, means adapted to rotate with respect to the vibrations of said cable, means permitting rotation of said last mentioned means in one direction and preventing rotation thereof in the other direction to impart longitudinal motion to said member, and means to reverse the action of said rotating means.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, means for vibrating said cable, a member adapted to move along said cable, means adapted to rotate with respect to the vibrations of said cable, means for preventing said last mentioned means from rotating in a. clockwise direction in one position and for preventing said last mentioned means from rotating in a counter clockwise direction when in another position to impart motion to said member in a direction according to its position.

10. In a device of the character described, in combination, a device adapted to travel along a cable, means included in said device operatively related to said cable and adapted to rotate in one direction; and means for imparting vibrations to said cable, said vibrations imparting motion to said device in one direction and being compensated for by said rotating means in the other direction.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, a device to travel along said cable, means operatively related to said cable included in said device and capable of rotation in one direction; and means for imparting longitudinal vibrations to said cable, the stroke of each vibration in one direction acting against said last mentioned means to impart motion to said device and the stroke of each vibration in-the other direction being compensated for by the rotationof said rotating means.

12. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, a device adapted to travel along said cable;

means associated with said cable and coacting therewith and capable of rotation; means for controlling the direction in which said last mentioned means is capable ofrotation; and means for imparting vibrations to said cable, one half of each vibration imparting motion to said device in a direction in accordance with the operative condition of said controlling means.

13.. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, a device adapted to travel along said cable means included in said cable coacting therewith and capable of rotation; means for con trolling the direction in which said last men tioned means is capable of rotation according to its position, and means for imparting vibrations to said cable, the strokes of said vibrations imparting motion to said device in a direction according to the positionjat said controlling means and the strokes of said vibrations in the other direction, when said controlling means is inone position, being compensated for by said rotating member.

14. In a device of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, a device adapted to travel along said cable means included in said cable coactingtherewith and capable of rotation; means for controlling the direction in which said last mentioned means is capable of rotation and adapted to be actuated by the application of pressure at either end thereof; and means forimparting vibrations to said cable, one half of each vibration imparting motion to said device in a direction in accordance with the operative condition of said controlling means.

15. In a device of the character described,

in combination, means including a cable, a

device adapted to travel along said cable,a drum operatively related to said cable and capable of rotation in either direction, means in engagement with said drum for stopping rotation in one direction and permitting rotation in the other direction; and means for imparting vibrations to said cable, the

strokes of said vibrations in one direction acting to impart motion to said device.

16; In a devic e 'of the character described, in combination, means including a cable, a

device adapted to travel along said cable, a drum operatively related to said cable and capable of rotation in either direction, means in engagement with said drum for stopping rotation in one direction and permitting rotationin the other direction, means for re versing the action of said last. mentioned means, and means for imparting vibrations to said cable, the strokesof said vibrations actingto impart motion to said device in a direction according to the action of said reversingmeans. 1

17. In a device of the character described, in combination, meansincluding a'cable, a device adapted to travel along said cable; a drum included in said device operatively related to said cable, the longitudinal vibrations of said cable producing a corresponding rotation ofsaid drum about its axis, a roll adapted to engage-said drum, guiding means for said roll; means adapted to position said roll with respect to said guiding means to per-. mit clockwise rotation of said drum and stop rotation in a counter clockwise direction, when in'one-position, and adapted to posi- .tion said roll with respect to said guiding means to permit said drum to rotate in a counter clockwise direction and stop clockwise rotation thereof, when in another position; means for controlling the position of said last mentioned means, and means for vibrating said cable to impart motion to said device in a direction according to the effective position of said controlling means.

l8.-In a device of the character described,

in combination, means including a cable, a device adapted to travel along said cable, a drum included in said device, a cable passing by said'device and encircling said drum, a roll in engagement with said drum and adapted to engage guiding means consisting of two arcs having centers spaced from the center of said drum, means for placing said roll between either ofsaid arcs and said drum to'permit rotation of said drum in one direction according to the position of said T011, and meansfor imparting longitudinal vibrations to said cable, said device moving in responseto the strokes of said vibrations in a direction in which said drum cannot rotate, and said drum rotating to compensate for the strokes of said vibrations in the opposite direction.

19. In a device of the character described, in combination, means having a rotatable drum mounted thereon, a cable encirclingsaid drum and capable oflongitudinal vibration to impart corresponding rotary movement to said drum, camming means in engagement with saiddrum for preventing ro 'tation. of said drum in one direction or the other direction according to its position with respect to said drum, means for controlling the position of said camming means, and means for vibrating said cable, the strokes of said vibrations pulling said first mentioned means along said cable in a direction in accordance with the action of said controlling means.

20. In vibratory apparatus, in combination, a rotatably mounted drum, an arm pivotally mounted above said drum and slidably mounted on said drum at a point spaced from the axis of said drum, resilient means secured to said arm and adapted to exert a tension on said arm in one direction with respect to the pivotal point of said arm; means including a cable secured to said arm at a point spaced from said pivotal point, said means being resilient and tending to exert a tension on said arm in the opposite direction to the direction of tension of said first mentioned means, and means for rotating said drum.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this 11th day of February, 1931.

CHARLES KNUUTILA. 

